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2005 New York Pro Show

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Flex Staff

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Trinidad's greatest bodybuilder, Darrem Charles, has made bodybuilding history by becoming the first-ever IFBB NY Pro Men's Champion. Of significance too is the fact that this was the first competition judged in accordance with the new IFBB advisory concerning aesthetic appeal. Not surprisingly, Charles possesses one of the sport's more aesthetic physiques and now, one of its larger ones too.

Darrem managed to add a good deal of refined mass to his upper body in the offseason and carried it well. His biceps have to be in contention for bodybuilding's best and his delts have reached Levrone-like proportions. His quads, while showing their usual striations, seemed down in size, slightly, but this may merely be an optical illusion, created by his newfound upper body mass.

Ahmad Haidar took second place with a physique that was all lines and tie-ins and the things that bring to mind a piece of classical statuary. Could his biceps be a little bigger? Sure. Could his thighs have a bit more sweep? Maybe. But this is nitpicking of a great physique. If not for a little water retention Haidar might have seen his fortunes reversed with Charles'.

Hometown hero Victor Martinez nailed down third place to a cacophonous chorus of boos nearly as loud as the booming thunder outside Manhattan's Tribeca Performing Arts Center. While he certainly has the size shape and "wow" factor of a winner, his conditioning held him back today, as it has several times over the past year.

Patterson, NJ's Craig Richardson finished in third with a physique that might best be described as "streamlined." Before the evening show he wore a big smile when discussing the advisory and true to form, his smiles were justified. Small waist, flaring muscles and great lines mean another Olympia qualification for Richardson.

Rounding out the top five was rookie and NYer Capriese Murray. Murray has the freakiest proportions this reporter has ever seen. His shoulder-to-waist-to-thigh ratio has to be seen to be believed. But his difficulty in controlling his midsection coupled with eye-catching contours on his shoulders may have kept him from placing higher.

On a thunderous night in New York, bodybuilding's East Coast contingent (Darrem/Ahmad-Florida, Victor/Capriese-New York, Craig- New Jersey) stormed their way into the history books, and the 2005 Mr. Olympia, at the inaugural IFBB NY Pro competition. Congratulations to Bev Francis and Steve Weinberger for a job well done and to all the competitors for putting pro bodybuilding in a New York state of mind, if but for a day.